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Striker Liam Delap is recovering from a thigh problem at a important period for Chelsea.

The Blues were beaten 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on the weekend, with head coach Enzo Maresca citing "limited inventiveness" and his team's delivery being "below standard".

Chelsea's strikers are finding it hard to score and assists as Delap makes his comeback in the League Cup against lowly Wolves on this week (prime time), having sat out 10 fixtures since suffering the setback in the success over Fulham in last month.

Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be phased in "gradually", and the new recruit's comeback is vital for a team facing questions over their mixed results, which has left the cup competitions their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this term.

Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro

Chelsea brought in Delap from the Championship side for a £30 million fee despite attention from Old Trafford club, St James' Park side and Everton.

Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this summer's Club World Cup - and with solid justification.

Joao Pedro found the net three times in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the America. The Brazil striker added two more goals and three goal contributions in his first four Premier League games after joining from Brighton.

More of late, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his last seven games. Maresca said he is one of three players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "shielded".

When questioned about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca said: "Definitely the fitness aspect is vital. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, notably in this competition."

"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to score 20 goals annually. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to find the net and create chances but he's a distinctive forward to those who net 20 to 25 goals each year like the Polish striker, the French superstar or [Erling] Haaland."

Wider Problems in Chelsea's Forward Line

Chelsea deal with wider issues beyond their forwards and Joao Pedro's goalless run.

Forward Cole Palmer has completed two games all season and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until the winter.

Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has failed to score and a single assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven games and caused an own goal against Benfica.

Estevao Willian, eighteen, has entertained since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has just two strikes and one assist - equaling youth product Tyrique George.

Striker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.

Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from full-back last season, is still to score this term. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one score and two setups in his last two games, but before that got only one goal in the first 10 games.

After 13 matches in various cups no forward has above two scores, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four goals.

Queried whether a absence of prolific strikers means duties need distributing, Maresca said: "Certainly, yes. We frequently mentioned that the five players at the offense, we need numerous strikes from each, in the manner we achieved last campaign."

Maresca has discovered methods to challenge despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second place for free-kick and corner scores in the Premier League, one less than Arsenal. In addition, the West London club are the first team to have 10 different scorers in the Premier League this term.

Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?

Some Chelsea fans feel the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the off-season - is cursed. It had been vacant since 2023, and footballers who wore it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 appearances
• Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in fifty-eight matches
• Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 appearances
• Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 games
• Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 appearances
• Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 appearances
• Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in one hundred seventy-two matches
• Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 games
• Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 games
• Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in twenty matches

A central player and backline player are included in this group, and some would suggest Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his record, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the striker's jersey.

But Delap was unmoved when asked about the jinx. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he stated at the Club World Cup.

"Ultimately it's a number on the back of your uniform. It's just a number that has always been related to forwards so it's something that I like and there's no added burden."